Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Dec 13: New Zealand is now preparing to ban its future generations from purchasing tobacco. One of the world’s toughest crackdowns on the tobacco industry, legislation prohibiting the sale of tobacco to anyone born after January 1, 2009, has passed its third reading in New Zealand.
It is yet another step toward the government’s goal of making the country ‘smoke-free’ by 2025. According to the government, it is one of the strictest laws in the world.
“This legislation accelerates progress towards a smoke-free future,” Associate Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall said.
“Thousands of people will live longer, healthier lives and the health system will be $5bn better off from not needing to treat the illnesses caused by smoking, such as numerous types of cancer, heart attacks, strokes, amputations,” she added.
The number of stores legally permitted to sell cigarettes will be reduced by a tenth, from 6,000 to 600 across the country. The laws passed their final reading on Tuesday evening and will come into force in 2023, as New Zealand attempts to reach its goal of making the country ‘smoke-free’ by 2025.
According to The New Zealand Herald, the Smoke-free Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco), Amendment Bill makes three main changes:
- Lowering the nicotine content of smoked tobacco products
- Minimizing the number of tobacco-selling retailers
- Making sure tobacco is not sold at all to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009.
The bill is now set to become law after passing its final reading in Parliament with support from Labour, the Greens, and Te Paati Maori.
New Zealand will be the first country in the world to implement the annually rising smoking age, ensuring tobacco cannot be sold to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009.
